Charité – A Mother’s Love in Action
Charité, the bas-relief found on the side of the Hôtel de Carnavelet, has long captivated my attention. As it occupies an otherwise empty wall at 48 rue de Sévigné, I wondered why it was there. Was it part of the original building? The more times I passed by the more curious I became as to it history. I definitely love ...
>
Human Zoo- A Haunting Past in Paris’ Bois de Vincennes
The disturbing idea of a human zoo really changed my viewpoint of this forgotten garden of the Colonial Exposition. The epitome of racism, the garden hides its sordid history in the corner of the Bois de Vincennes. French Colonialism This place of public exhibition promoted French colonialism. Le jardin d’agronomie ...
>
Parc Monceau – a bit of England in Paris
Read my story in French » Parc Monceau is a lovely little park in the 8th arrondissement. Slightly more than one-third the size of Luxembourg Gardens which was built to resemble the Florence gardens of Catherine de Médicis' childhood, Parc Monceau is an English style garden. Less structured than the Luxembourg Gardens and ...
>
Vestiges of Vanishing Vespasiennes in Paris
The Vanishing Vespasiennes certainly has a catching ring to it, doesn’t it? Whether it be a boîte à sable, or a Vespasienne, when something is on the verge of disappearing, I just have to document it. Hence, my search for the last Vespasienne in Paris. Curiosity alone was enough to intrigue my husband so we arranged our ...
>
Boîtes à Sable are another Vestige from the Past
When I discovered that there were so few boîtes à sable (boxes with sand) remaining in Paris, I had to find them……. Or at least one of them! These boîtes à sable are remnants of Paris’ past, dating from the nineteenth century. Beautiful cast iron boxes, boîtes, were used at one time to hold the sand, sable, ...
>
Climbing the Tower John without Fear
Climbing the Tower John without Fear (Tour Jean sans Peur) in Paris was one of my more interesting "museum experiences". No, there is nothing "fearful" about climbing the tower despite the title of the post. The staircase is winding but not difficult and each level of the tower yields a bit of history, thus making each ...
>
Arc de Triomphe
Arc de Triomphe d’Étoile Did you know that Paris has more than one Arc de Triomphe. Possibly the most well-known is the Arc de Triomphe d’Étoile, located in the center of Place Charles de Gaulle. This arc honors those who fought and died for France during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. Beneath it lies the ...
>